Recognized by IDG's Computerworld for
Excellence in Information Technology Leadership

Philadelphia - December 27, 2007 - Computerworld, the "Voice of IT Management," announced recently that it selected Franz N. Fruehwald, CIO of Catholic Human Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia as one of Computerworld's 2008 Premier 100 IT Leaders.

Computerworld's 2008 Premier 100 IT Leaders honors the 100 IT executives who have led their organizations by mentoring and motivating employees; envisioning innovative solutions to business challenges; and effectively managing and executing IT strategies. The 2008 Honorees will be recognized, with many presenting their success strategies, at Computerworld's upcoming Premier 100 IT Leaders Conference held March 9 - 11, 2008 in Orlando, FL.

The complete class of Computerworld's Premier 100 IT Leaders for 2008 appears online at http://www.premier100.com and in the December 10, 2007, issue of Computerworld (www.computerworld.com). In addition to the class roster, a special report highlights the challenges IT leaders expect to face in the coming year, including developing their staff's skills, mapping current IT initiatives with the top priorities of their CEOs and driving innovation.
Computerworld's Premier 100 IT Leaders Conference involves companies across all industries, as well as government and educational organizations. This year's recipients were selected from nearly 800 nominees, who were measured against Computerworld's IT Leadership Index, a set of characteristics that describes executives who guide the effective use of IT in their organizations, and evaluated by the editors and by a panel of outside judges. The candidates were asked about a range of topics, including their backgrounds, work experiences, special accomplishments and leadership styles.
Catholic Human Services (CHS) coordinates the charitable outreach to persons in need and senior citizens of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. It comprises the social service and health care agencies and programs sponsored or operated by the Archdiocese. The largest components of the CHS are Catholic Social Services and Catholic Health Care Services. CSS offers residential child care for at-risk youth, foster care placements, community-based afterschool programs, housing for the formerly homeless, services to adjudicated youth, mental retardation residential and community-based programming, adoption services, counseling, emergency services, food cupboards, and financial education. Catholic Health Care operates six skilled nursing facilities, three independent living facilities and various community programs for seniors. Services for the entire network of CHS are operated from approximately 90 sites in the five southeastern counties of Pennsylvania.
As CIO of the CHS information technology division, Fruehwald supports the ministry of mercy and care of Catholic Human Services. In 1999 a strategic plan was formulated to establish an independent network to equip the ministries with the ability to capture service data that was increasingly necessary to provide to private and public funders in order to be successful in generating funds. Franz assumed the leadership of the division in 2004 and has helped to complete the initial Technology Plan, making technology more accessible to management and staff, and point out ways where services could be optimized.

"All of us at Catholic Human Services are very proud that Franz received this honor," said Reverend Monsignor Joseph A. Tracy, Secretary for Catholic Human Services. "He has been an outstanding leader in helping us complete the build out of our network, of educating our social workers, nurses, and nurse assistants to the use and benefit of technology in their work. As human service providers, our staffs weren't used to computer work; but over the last 7 years, we've gotten to the point where it's almost impossible to do your daily job without access to the network. The ability to generate outcomes data quickly is tremendously important to our future planning and survival."

The spotlight on the upcoming Computerworld's Premier 100 IT Leaders Conference will be on great ideas, strategic use of best practices and real-world leadership from the IT and business executives who are advancing their organizations through technology.
"This year's class of Honorees is characterized by a diversity that demonstrates the value of unique backgrounds and approaches in building an outstanding IT organization. Yet what these individuals have in common is an expertise born of hard work and an intangible leadership quality they can tap to successfully champion IT not only as a business enabler, but as a business influencer," said Scot Finnie, editor-in-chief, Computerworld. "The professionals honored in Computerworld's 2008 Premier 100 IT Leaders Awards Program, and by extension the organizations they represent, are clearly mindful of their role and obligation as leaders of the global IT community. Their willingness to brave the scrutiny of the limelight as they share their experiences with their peers has won our respect, appreciation, and deep admiration."